Helmet with vent in visor cover



Nov. 12, 1963 J. A. AILEO HELMET WITH VENT IN VISOR COVER Original Filed Aug. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

M MM

Nov. 12, 1963 J. A. AILEO HELMET WITH VENT IN VISOR- COVER Original Filed Aug. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J4c/(5o/v A. 4/4 50 WWW ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice BAN-34 Patented Nov. 12, 1963 3,110,034 HELMET WITH VENT EN VESOR COVER .laclrson A. Aile'o, Carhondale, Pa., assignor to Leonard P.

Frieder, Great Neck, Long Island, N.Y.

Original application Aug. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 835,120, now Patent No. 3,066,305, dated Dec. 4, 1962. Divided and this application Oct. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 227,848

3 Claims. (Cl. 26)

This invention relates to a protective helmet and more especially to a helmet provided with an eye-shielding visor. The invention particularly relates to such a helmet having a cover defining a space into and out of which the visor is movable between an eye-shielding position and a retracted position.

In my prior application Serial No. 835,120, filed August 20, 1959, now Patent No. 3,066,305 of which the present application is a division, is disclosed a helmet having a rigid shell of generally spheroidal shape dimensioned to receive the head of a wearer. A visor is movable between eye-shielding position and a retracted position in which the visor is covered by a cover defining with the outer surface of the shell a space into which the visor is received in its retracted position. Means are supported on the cover which provide for movement of the visor between the two positions, the visor being supported on track means supported on the shell; also means providing for securely positioning the visor in a plurality of positions intermediate its eye-shielding and its retracted positions.

One of the problems met in the use of helmets of this type, especially where the shell is substantially of rigid spheroidal form and the cover is substantially rigid and has a similar curvature in its outwardly spaced relation to the shell, is that aerodynamic action occurs on the curved exterior surface of the cover which tends to lift the cover from the shell or to bulge it outwardly with respect to the shell. Even though a slot extending forwardly and rearwardly is provided in the cover along which the visor securing means may move concomitantly with movement of the visor between the eye-shielding and retracted positions, the aerodynamic action mentioned takes place at both sides of the slot. Moreover, because the space between the cover and the helmet is open at the forward edge of the cover, air may be forced into the space in the forward movement of the helmet and tends to build up a pressure in this space, especially toward the rear thereof, which also acts to lift the cover from the helmet.

As disclosed in my application Serial No. 835,120, in order to provide for easy movement of the visor while confining it in any selected position between the eyeshielding and the retracted positions, tracks of arcnate form conforming to the shape of the lateral edges of the visor and the parallel arcuate surface of the helmet are provided, the edge portions of the cover respectively being secured to the body portions of these tracks. It will be understood that the arcs of these tracks are required to be substantially in vertical plan s parallel to the central vertical plane of the helmet in order that there shall be no binding of the track engaging means in the track and no warping of the visor. The track is of limited length forwardly and rearwardly as determined by the length of the visor and the length of its movement. The rearward portion of the cover is extended rearwardly to provide clearance space for the visor and to provide for reverting the cover toward the helmet so that the rear edge portions of the cover may be brought into engagement with the exterior surface of the shell.

In order to prevent or minimize the aerodynamic effect upon the cover and the development of pressure beneath the cover in the visor space, in accordance with this invention adjacent the rear edge of the cover an aperture is formed which provides for movement of air therethrough to reduce the pressure difference between that in the space beneath the cover and the exterior atmosphere, or to equalize these pressures. Depending on the relative pressures respectively due to air forced into the space through the forward opening and due to the aerodynamic effect, the air may move between the space and the atmosphere through the aperture in one direction or the other to secure the desired equalization and prevention of lifting of the cover. Especially in a helmet having a cover provided with a central slot for the visor securing means, it is advantageous to provide two apertures which may be elongated and extend generally parallel to the curvature of the rear laterally extending edge of the cover conforming to the curve of the exterior surface of the helmet.

The invention will be understood more clearly from the description of the drawings to follow in which:

FIG. 1 shows in side elevation a helmet with its cover embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front elevation viewed from the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical section on line III-1H of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section on line IVIV of FIG. 2.

As shown in the drawings, the helmet provides a rigid shell 1 of generally spheroidal shape with ear covering portions 3 depending from the body portion thereof. The shell may be provided with suitable rigging, for example, as shown in US. Patent 2,739,309, granted Mar. 27, 1956 for supporting the shell in proper relation to the head of the wearer. This rigging includes strap 7 extending through opening 9 in the shell wall and snap fastener 11 for securing the strap to the shell.

Mounted exteriorly of the shell 1 is cover 13 extending from its lower forward edge 15 upwardly and rearwardly generally parallel to the curvature of the shell to an upper rear edge portion 17 which is reverted toward the outer surface of the shell 1. The laterally extending edge surface 18, FIG. 2, of the upper rear edge portion 17 in the embodiment shown engages the outer surface of the shell 1 at the parts of the upper rear edge portion which are laterally disposed in the cover 13' with respect to the central vertical plane of the shell as well as adjacent this central plane. Between the shell engaging edge surfaces 18, the edge surface of the upper rear portion 17 of the cover is spaced from the shell to form therewith apertures 20, as shown in FIG. 3 and in dotted lines in FIG. 2, to provide for movement therethrough of air in such direction as will reduce the difference in pressure between that in the space 19 between the cover 13 and the shell 1 and the exterior atmosphere, thereby to prevent lifting of the cover which might result in its being torn from its fastenings or distortion of the cover.

The cover 13 is made of such material and form as to provide substantial rigidity with a view to supporting the visor moving means and a detent means therefor, as well as to maintaining the space between the cover and the shell with the lateral edge portions 21 held in place upon the two track means 23 of arcuate form which support the visor 25 for its movement, the upper rear edge surfaces 18 of the cover being in engagement with the exterior surface of the shell. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each track means provides a groove 27 and a body portion 29 extending along the arc thereof. The body portion is secured to the shell 1 by screws 33 and the cover is secured to the body portion 29 by screws 31 which serve, therefore, to hold the rearward extending portion of the cover with its edges 18 in engagement with the shell surface.

Each lateral edge portion of the visor 25 has a bead 37 extending along and secured thereto as by rivets 39, the beads 37 engaging the surfaces of the grooves to guide the visor along the tracks. A wear strip 41 is secured at the outer side of the visor over each bead 37 for sliding engagement with the cover in the movement of the visor along the tracks. When the cover is secured by screws 31, as will be apparent from F13. 4, the head 37 is confined to the groove 27.

In the embodiment disclosed in the parent application Serial No. 835,120 and in the present application, the cover 13 is provided with a central slot 45 extending upwardly from a point above the lower margin of the cover to a point below the upper margin or rear portion of the cover. A slider 55 is manually movable along the slot and is connected to the visor 25 in the manner and for the purpose described in the parent application. Detent means is provided, including strip 47 with a portion thereof,contoured to form teeth 57 and depressions 59, and spring element 67 having prominences 69 engageable with the depressions 59, these prominences riding over the teeth 57 when the slider 55 and the visor 25 therewith are moved. The features andrnechanical action of the detent means is described and claimed in the application Serial No. 835,120 above mentioned.

It would be understood that while it is necessary to form the cover with such material as to provide a substantially rigid member carried by the helmet, it is desirable to limit the weight'and the thickness of the cover so as not to add undue weight to the helmet which must be supported on the head of the wearer. It is possible to construct'the cover to meet these requirements but, if undue force is brought upon the cover such as may occur due to the aerodynamic action or to the pressure developed beneath the cover, this cover may become distorted if not deformed. The means carried by the cover for effecting movement of the visor between its eye-shielding position and its restricted position and including detent means for holding the visor in a selected position may become Warped so that such movement and action of the detent means cannot be effected. The provision of the aperture or apertures at the rearward portion of the cover reduces or prevents such lifting or warping of the cover by relieving the pressure through the aperture as described. It will be understood, although the aperture 20 in the embodiment disclosed is formed between the recessed portion of the laterally extending rearward edge of the cover and the exterior helmet surface, that this aperture or apertures may be formed in the rearward portion of the cover itself in a location spaced from the helmet surface.

. Detent means, track means and other parts as described in the parent application, or such means and parts of different form suitable for their purposes, may be used in dconnection with the visor cover or" the invention, having regard to the need for an opening at the forward edge of the cover to provide for the visor entering and moving out of this space between the cover and the shell.

The feature of the aperture or apertures formed at the rearward portion of the cover to provide for movement of air therethrough to equalize the pressures may be utilized for covers and visor supporting means of different types where the cover is substantially rigid and formed so that its edge portions engage and fit to the exterior surface of the shell and where pressure of air forced into the space or the aerodynamic force or both may tend to lift the cover from the shell.

All such variations are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a protective helmet having a rigid shell adapted to receive the head of a wearer, a visor, and means carried by said shell for supporting said visor for movement thereof between a retracted position in generally parallel outwardly spaced relation to the outer surface of said shell and a position wherein said visor is adapted to shield the wearers eyes, the combination with said shell of a cover supported on said shell in outwardly spaced relation to and covering said visor in said retracted position thereof, said cover defining with said shell an opening at the edge portion of said cover that is disposed adjacent the forward edge of the helmet to provide for movement of the visor into and out of the space between said cover and said outer surface of said shell, said cover adjacent the rearward edge portion thereof being formed to define an aperture communicating between the exterior atmosphere and said space between said cover and said outer surface of the shell to provide for movement of air through the aperture to reduce the pressure difierence between said space and the exterior atmosphere to prevent lifting of the cover from the helmet.

2. In a protective helmet, the combination as defined in claim 1 in which the rearward edge portion of said cover is reverted toward said shell and parts of the edge surface of said rearward portion engage the outer surface of said shell, said aperture being defined between said rearward edge surfaces of the cover and said shell.

3. In a protective helmet, the combination as defined in claim 1 in which at least two apertures are provided disposed in laterally spaced relation at either side of the for ward and rearward center line of said helmet.

Bailey et al July 9, 1957 Roth et al Jan.13,1959 

1. IN A PROTECTIVE HELMET HAVING A RIGID SHELL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE HEAD OF A WEARER, A VISOR, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SHELL FOR SUPPORTING SAID VISOR FOR MOVEMENT THEREOF BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION IN GENERALLY PARALLEL OUTWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SHELL AND A POSITION WHEREIN SAID VISOR IS ADAPTED TO SHIELD THE WEARER''S EYES, THE COMBINATION WITH SAID SHELL OF A COVER SUPPORTED ON SAID SHELL IN OUTWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO AND COVERING SAID VISOR IN SAID RETRACTED POSITION THEREOF, SAID COVER DEFINING WITH SAID SHELL AN OPENING AT THE EDGE PORTION OF SAID COVER THAT IS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE HELMET TO PROVIDE FOR MOVEMENT OF THE VISOR INTO AND OUT OF THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID COVER AND SAID OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SHELL, SAID COVER ADJACENT THE REARWARD EDGE PORTION THEREOF BEING FORMED TO DEFINE AN APERTURE COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR ATMOSPHERE AND SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID COVER AND SAID OUTER SURFACE OF THE SHELL TO PROVIDE FOR MOVEMENT OF AIR THROUGH THE APERTURE TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAID SPACE AND THE EXTERIOR ATMOSPHERE TO PREVENT LIFTING OF THE COVER FROM THE HELMET. 